1924 - living

• Born Sept. 10, 1924 Brigham City, Utah
• Baptized as a child; Aaronic Priesthood as a youth; Melchizedek Priesthood as a young man
• Served in U.S. Army Air Corps, 1942-1946
• Married Donna Smith 1947; ten children
• Doctorate in educational administration from BYU, 1962
• Assistant to the Twelve, 1961-1970
• President of New England States Mission, 1965-68.
• Ordained Apostle and sustained to Council of the Twelve, 1970-present
• Acting President of Council of the Twelve 1994-2008
• President of Council of the Twelve 2008-present

    Foremost a husband, father and grandfather who cherishes family life, and who includes in the realm of family those ancestors whose records and stories he and his wife have researched and for whom they have done temple work, he is better known in the Church as a disciplined student who, already having a profound understanding of the doctrine contained in the scriptures, daily searches the sacred books to comprehend their principles. He is lauded as a master teacher who has great ability to pass along his understanding and comprehension to others. He is appreciated as a man whose wit, though quick, is never unkind.

    He was born in Brigham City, Utah, Sept. 10, 1924, the 10th in a family of 11 children to Ira W. and Emma Jensen Packer. In an interview with the Church News for the July 21, 1985, issue, President Packer, then a member of the Council of the Twelve, said: "In a number of my talks, I've told how my mother taught us lessons very early in life. One was an incident where their house nearly burned down. She had stayed home because she had an impression not to go to town with her family. She told us to always follow the promptings of the Spirit."

     President Packer was encouraged as a young boy to read, to study the world around him. His Danish mother spread newsprint on the floor where he would sprawl and draw. He considered becoming a professional artist. He eventually created beautiful paintings, both in oils or acrylics, and illustrated several books. He became an expert carver of wood,  creating life-like birds perched on leaves and blossoms he sculpted from copper.

    At age 21, when he was a bomber pilot during World War II stationed on an Okinawan island in 1945, he strolled a lonely beach, pondering his future. He decided to become a teacher. After the military, he enrolled at Weber College, now Weber State University, in Ogden, Utah. He next attended Utah State University in Logan, from which he graduated a member of Phi Kappa Phi, the national honorary scholastic society.

    President Packer credits his wife, Donna Smith Packer, for making it possible for him to pursue a career in education and, later, to serve as a General Authority. They married in the Logan Temple 47 years ago, but he still refers to her as "my bride." They are parents of 10 children, and have 51 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

    Sister Packer has been a profound influence in President Packer's life. Her willingness to be centered in family life and to encourage him in service, he said, are fundamental reasons for his progress.

    Encouraged by his wife in his chosen profession, he taught seminary for six years, during  which time he completed his work for a master of education degree at Utah State University. His work in the seminary at Brigham City included opening the first Indian seminary and adding a fourth-year Book of Mormon course, which thereafter became standard in the seminary curriculum. As a member of the Church's Scriptures Publication Committee, he was instrumental in the publishing of new editions of the scriptures.

    Elder Packer was called as Assistant to the Twelve on Oct. 1, 1961 and while still an Assistant served as President of the New England States Mission, from 1965 to 1968.

    He was ordained an Apostle and sustained to the Quorum of the Twelve April 9, 1970. With the call of Gordon B. Hinckley and Thomas S. Monson as Counselors to President Howard W. Hunter, Elder Packer was set apart as Acting President of the Council of the Twelve on June 5, 1994. Then, with the death of President Hunter and President Monson being called as First Counselor, President Packer was called again to serve as Acting President of the Twelve on March 12, 1995.

    He remained Acting President of the Twelve until the death of President Hinckley. With the ascension of President Monson to the Prophet's seat, President Packer removed the word "Acting" from his title and became President of the Twelve on February 4, 2008.

    The Church often sees President Packer as a strict diciplinarian, without wit or sympathy. President Spencer W. Kimball wrote of an incident that gives the lie to that perception. President Kimball told of a sacrament meeting that Elder Packer, then an Assistant to the Twelve, had attended in Cuzco, Peru, in 1964. President Kimball described the scene of a little boy who was dirty and dressed in tattered clothes - apparently an orphan who lived on the streets - who came to the open doorway of the chapel during the sacrament service.

    "Almost unobserved, he shyly came to the sacrament table and, with a seeming spiritual hunger, leaned against the table and lovingly rubbed his unwashed face against the cool, smooth white linen," President Kimball wrote.

    The child was sent back into the street by a woman sitting on the front row. "A bit later the little urchin, seemingly compelled by some inner urge, overcame his timidity and came stealthily, cautiously down the aisle again, fearful, ready to escape if necessary," President Kimball wrote. "From his seat on the stand, Elder Packer caught his eye, beckoned to him, and stretched out big welcoming arms. After a moment's hesitation, the little Lamanite ragamuffin was nestled comfortably on his lap, in his arms, the tousled head against the great warm heart - a heart sympathetic to waifs, and especially to little Lamanite ones."

You will note that most are available only as text; some are available only in an audio (ASX or MP3) format; while still others are available in both text and audio formats.

Any talk marked with an asterisk (*) is not (to my knowledge) available anywhere else on the web. As a service, it has been copied onto this web site.

I am not Reticent to Speak Pointedly * Note:This is Elder Packer's first talk to General Conference after being called as an Assistant to the Twelve	General Conference, 8 April 1962
Eternal Love	BYU Fireside, 3 November 1963	MP3
Follow the Brethren	BYU Fireside, 23 March 1965	MP3
I'm a Person * Another talk by Elder Packer containing one of John W. Redelfs' "Ten Deadly Twinkies." And so... another link dedicated to John W. Redelfs.	General Conference, 2 October 1965
The Path to Manhood * Note: This is Elder Packer's first General Conference Address after being sustained to the Council of the Twelve. It was delivered to the Priesthood session of the 140th Annual General Conference.	Priesthhod Meeting General Conference, 6 April 1970
Eternal Marriage	BYU Fireside, 14 April 1970	MP3
The Family and Eternity	Ensign, February 1971
“The Spirit Beareth Record”	Ensign, June 1971
The Only True and Living Church	Ensign, December 1971
Begin Where You Are—At Home	Ensign, February 1972
Why Stay Morally Clean	Ensign, July 1972
The Saints Securely Dwell	Ensign, January 1973
Called of God by Prophecy	BYU Fireside, 27 March 1973
Behold Your Little Ones	Ensign, July 1973
What Every Freshman Should Know	Ensign, September 1973
Inspiring Music—Worthy Thoughts	Ensign, January 1974
President Spencer W. Kimball: No Ordinary Man	Ensign, March 1974
We Believe All That God Has Revealed	General Conference, April 1974
Where Much Is Given; Much Is Required	General Conference, October 1974
Self Reliance	BYU Fireside, 2 March 1975
An Appeal to Prospective Elders	General Conference, April 1975
Self-Reliance	Ensign, August 1975
The Redemption of the Dead	General Conference, October 1975
The Arts and the Spirit of the Lord	BYU Fireside, 1 February 1976
Spiritual Crocodiles	General Conference, April 1976
The Arts and the Spirit of the Lord	Ensign, August 1976
Someone Up There Loves You	Ensign, January 1977
Follow the Rule	BYU Fireside, 14 January 1977
The Equal Rights Amendment	Ensign, March 1977
The Mediator	General Conference, April 1977
The Balm of Gilead	General Conference, October 1977
Solving Emotional Problems in the Lord’s Own Way	General Conference, April 1978
The Relief Society	General Conference, October 1978
“Judge Not According to the Appearance”	General Conference, April 1979
Prayers and Answers	General Conference, October 1979
Ordinances	BYU Fireside, 3 February 1980
A Tribute to the Rank and File of the Church	General Conference, April 1980
The Circle of Sisters	General Conference, October 1980
The Choice	General Conference, October 1980
Marriage	General Conference, April 1981
The Aaronic Priesthood	General Conference, October 1981
The Gospel—The Foundation for Our Career	General Conference, April 1982
Scriptures	General Conference, October 1982
The Candle of the Lord	Ensign, January 1983
Agency and Control	General Conference, April 1983
“Come; All Ye Sons of God”	Ensign, August 1983
The Mystery of Life	General Conference, October 1983
Feed My Sheep	General Conference, April 1984
The Pattern of Our Parentage	General Conference, October 1984
Principles	Ensign, March 1985
“From Such Turn Away”	General Conference, April 1985
The Only True Church	General Conference, October 1985
Roland and Dora Mae	BYU Devotional & Building Dedication, 29 October 1985
Using the New Scriptures	Ensign, December 1985
President Gordon B. Hinckley: First Counselor	Ensign, February 1986
“The Things of My Soul”	General Conference, April 1986
Little Children	General Conference, October 1986
Covenants	General Conference, April 1987
Balm of Gilead	General Conference, October 1987
Computerized Scriptures Now Available	Ensign, Apr-88
Atonement; Agency; Accountability	General Conference, April 1988
Funerals—A Time for Reverence	General Conference, October 1988
To Young Women and Men	General Conference, April 1989
A Tribute to Women	Ensign, July 1989
Revelation in a Changing World	General Conference, October 1989
The Library of the Lord	General Conference, April 1990
Teach Them Correct Principles	General Conference, April 1990
Covenants	General Conference, October 1990
I Say Unto You: Be One	BYU Devotional, 12 February 1991
The Moving of the Water	General Conference, April 1991
Reverence Invites Revelation	General Conference, October 1991
Our Moral Environment	General Conference, April 1992
“To Be Learned Is Good If …”	General Conference, October 1992
What Every Elder Should Know	Ensign, February 1993
The Temple; the Priesthood	General Conference, April 1993
A Temple to Exalt	Ensign, August 1993
For Time and All Eternity	General Conference, October 1993
The Father and the Family	General Conference, April 1994
We Honor Now His Journey	Ensign, July 1994
Personal Revelation: The Gift; the Test; and the Promise	General Conference, October 1994
The Holy Temple	Ensign, February 1995
President Howard W. Hunter—He Endured to the End	Ensign, April 1995
“The Shield of Faith”	General Conference, April 1995
The Snow-White Birds	BYU Annual University Conference, 29 August 1995
The Brilliant Morning of Forgiveness	General Conference, October 1995
The Word of Wisdom: The Principle and the Promises	General Conference, April 1996
The Twelve Apostles	General Conference, October 1996
Washed Clean	General Conference, April 1997
Called to Serve	General Conference, October 1997
“The Peaceable Followers of Christ”	Ensign, Apr-98
The Relief Society	General Conference, April 1998
Parents in Zion	General Conference, October 1998
The Bishop and His Counselors	General Conference, April 1999	ASX
The Spirit of Revelation	General Conference, October 1999	ASX
Teach the Children	Ensign, February 2000
The Cloven Tongues of Fire	General Conference, April 2000	ASX
“Ye Are the Temple of God”	General Conference, October 2000	ASX
“The Touch of the Master’s Hand” Because President Packer is one of John W. Redelfs' favorite speakers, indeed one of his favorite General Authorities of all time, and because John so decries what he calls "Theological Twinkies" of which "The Touch of the Master's hand" is one, Grampa dedicates this link to Brother John W. Redelfs. Click here for more details.	General Conference, April 2001	ASX
The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ	General Conference, October 2001	ASX
The Twenty-Mark Note	BYU Idaho Devotional 12 March 2002
Children	General Conference, April 2002	ASX
The Stake Patriarch	General Conference, October 2002
The Instrument of Your Mind and the Foundation of Your Character	CES Fireside for Young Adults , 2 February 2003	ASX
The Golden Years	General Conference, April 2003	ASX
Your Family History: Getting Started	Ensign, August 2003
“The Standard of Truth Has Been Erected”	General Conference, October 2003	MP3
Do Not Fear	General Conference, April 2004	MP3
The Least of These	General Conference, October 2004	MP3
The Light of Christ	Ensign, Apr-05
The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ—Plain and Precious Things	General Conference, April 2005	MP3
The Twelve Apostles	Ensign, September 2005
On Zion’s Hill	General Conference, October 2005	MP3
“I Will Remember Your Sins No More”	Ensign", May 2006	MP3
The Gift of the Holy Ghost: What Every Member Should Know	Ensign, August 2006
A Defense and a Refuge	General Conference, October 2006	MP3
Lehi's Dream and You	BYU Devotional, 16 January 2007	MP3
Principles of Teaching and Learning A presentation given jointly with Elder L. Tom Perry	Worldwide Leadership Training Meeting , February 2007	MP3
The Spirit of the Tabernacle	General Conference, April 2007	MP3